Cold weather precautions recommended to keep pets safe

Published 6:12 am, Thursday, January 23, 2014

The cold weather is headed back to Houston… at least for a few days. The Houston Humane Society wants everyone to take precautions to keep pets safe during this cold snap.

• If possible, keep all pets indoors. If not in the house, at least in the garage. Make sure they have a warm, dry place to sleep that’s off the floor and away from drafts.

• If your pet absolutely must stay outside, make sure the shelter is clean, dry, and well insulated with straw, wood shavings, or a blanket. Be sure to change the bedding daily to prevent moisture, and position the opening away from the wind and rain.

• Dry off the paws, legs, and stomach of your dog when you bring them back in from outside. If your pet is short haired or recently groomed, consider putting a sweater or shirt on them before taking them outside. And never shave your pet down to the skin. A longer coat will offer warmth in the winter and insulate from the heat in the summer.

• Puppies may be difficult to housetrain during the cold, try paper-training inside.

• Make sure your pet always has access to plenty of fresh water and food. Be sure to check outdoor water bowls frequently to make sure water hasn’t frozen.

• If your dog is sensitive to the weather due to age, illness, or breed type, only take them outdoors to relieve themselves.

• During cold weather, cats especially are in danger. Many seek shelter under car hoods for warmth. When the engine is started, injury and even death could occur from the fan belt. As a precaution, bang loudly on the hood before starting the engine in case a stray cat is using your car as a safe haven.

• Antifreeze is poisonous to our pets. Keep containers out of reach and clean up any spills. Consider switching to a product that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.

• Never leave your pet in a parked car. Your car can act like a refrigerator in the winter with temperatures quickly dropping.

• Law mandates that your pet must have proper shelter in inclement weather. If you see something you think might be cruelty or neglect we urge you to contact our animal cruelty investigation team. You can file a claim online at HoustonHumane.org/report-cruelty.

About the Houston Humane Society

The Houston Humane Society is dedicated to, and working towards, ending cruelty, abuse and the over population of animals while providing the highest quality of life to those in our care. The HHS does NOT receive any government funding or operating funds from national animal welfare organizations, and relies solely on donations, special events and program services. HHS maintains a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.